Week 16 Target Watch: Larry Fitzgerald Is Ageless

After weeks of players having a lot of targets, Week 16 was a down week. The Week 16 target watch showed only 15 players with double-digit targets. The games were rough (for some Fantasy owners) as some of the players who were expected to do well faltered.

For many leagues, the fantasy season is over. However, some formats have either the championship in Week 17 or a two-week play-off that ends in Week 17 (likely those are the only people still reading this column).

By this week, most Fantasy owners know who to start and who to sit. The factor that further complicates Week 17 is teams that may rest their starters.

Be sure to watch the team reports to see which fantasy studs (Todd Gurley, as an example) may be sitting in Week 17.

Please note none of the charts below show total receptions, total fantasy points or touchdowns. The sole purpose of this analysis is to look at targets.

Week 16 Target Watch

Each week I will be reviewing the targets for the past week, the season and even digging deeper by running back and tight end. I will also be analyzing any trends I find along the way.

Week 16 Double-Digit Targets

Player

Team

Targets

Larry Fitzgerald *

Arizona Cardinals

15

Zach Ertz

Philadelphia Eagles

14

Todd Gurley

Los Angeles Rams

13

Josh Doctson

Washington Redskins

13

Keelan Cole

Jacksonville Jaguars

13

T.Y. Hilton

Indianapolis Colts

12

Julio Jones

Atlanta Falcons

11

Roger Lewis *

New York Giants

11

DeVante Parker *

Miami Dolphins

10

T.J. Yeldon

Jacksonville Jaguars

10

A.J. Green

Cincinnati Bengals

10

Eric Decker

Tennessee Titans

10

Jack Doyle

Indianapolis Colts

10

Keenan Allen

Los Angeles Chargers

10

Charles Clay

Buffalo Bills

10

Only three of the pass-catchers on the list of double-digit targets were on the list last week. Who would have thought that in Weeks 15 and 16, Roger Lewis and DeVante Parker would be seeing double-digit targets two weeks in a row? Fantasy is a fickle beast, and it all ends this week. Lewis is a desperation fantasy option for Week 17, as the Giants have essentially given up on the season. While Sterling Shepard and Even Engram may miss the game, it’s hard to trust Lewis in the fantasy finals.

As for the Week 16 target leader, Larry Fitzgerald, he’s had a solid season, especially for a 34-year-old. He’s had over 100 receptions and over 1,100 receiving yards so far this season. He has six touchdowns on the year and he’s suffered from sub-par quarterback play for most of the season. He’s still a solid WR2 in Week 17.

Top Tight End Targets In Week 16

Zach Ertz *

Philadelphia Eagles

14

Jack Doyle

Indianapolis Colts

10

Charles Clay *

Buffalo Bills

10

Lance Kendricks

Green Bay Packers

9

Jason Witten

Dallas Cowboys

9

Don’t read too much into Lance Kendricks being on this list. The Packers had a brutal Week 16 outing, where they were trying to get any offense possible. Even with injuries to Jordy Nelson and Devante Adams, don’t trust Kendricks. Both Jack Doyle and Charles Clay have been up and down all season. The targets were there for them in Week 16, but that’s never a guarantee for the next week.

Top Running Back Targets In Week 16

Todd Gurley

Los Angeles Rams

13

T.J. Yeldon

Jacksonville Jaguars

10

C.J. Anderson

Denver Broncos

9

Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints

9

Todd Gurley likely won many Fantasy owners a title in Week 16. He’s had an impressive run in the fantasy playoffs, but it looks like he will be resting in Week 17. Unfortunately for fantasy owners with Gurley on their team, they will have to find someone else to carry them to a championship.

Alvin Kamara has been great for fantasy owners as well, and he will be playing in Week 17. Keep in him line-ups as an RB1.

Sarah Lewis (formerly Sarah Bojarski) once spent an entire cocktail hour at a wedding reception answering Fantasy Football start/sit questions on Twitter. She has been writing about Fantasy Football for five seasons now, and is always willing to talk draft strategy with anyone looking to win their league. Follow her on Twitter @Sarah_Lewis32